Ranking the best Fallout games is certainly no stroll through the wasteland. After all, the series has seen a lot of fantastic entries, with plenty of changes and developments over the decades. From the first games by developer Interplay to the most recent Bethesda RPGs, the series certainly has a long and varied legacy. And with so much history behind it, everyone will have different opinions about which post-apocalyptic adventure takes the top spot.
Still, we can all agree that it's an exciting time for Fallout fans right now. Fallout 5 is confirmed among the upcoming Bethesda games in the pipeline, and we have the release of Amazon Prime's TV show Fallout season 2 (which we had high praise for in our Fallout TV show review) to look forward to. On top of that, Fallout 4 got the next-gen update treatment in 2024.
Basically, there's never been a better time to reflect on the series. So grab yourself a bottle of Nuka Cola and join us as we take you through our ranking of the best Fallout games.
The best Fallout games
8. Fallout 76
Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
Released: 2018
In theory, the idea of an online multiplayer Fallout is very appealing. In practice, however, Fallout 76 doesn't have quite the same charm and wonder as its predecessors. At launch, the absence of NPCs really took away the same feel we're so used to in the series, and bugs and broken quests made the lonely world frustrating to boot.
To its credit, it has improved since, with the addition of NPCs making it feel more alive than it did previously, and it really has come a long way since launch - if you have some good pals to mess around with, it can be fun to dip in and out of. But sadly, the latest entry in the series doesn’t have the same kind of draw as those that came before it.
Read our Fallout 76 review for more details.
7. Fallout Shelter
Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
Released: 2017
Ever fancied being an Overseer? As a spin-off that ties into the world of the wastelands, Fallout Shelter is a great free-to-play management sim that will keep you hooked with its sense of progression. As one of the best free games, it will rarely try to get you to spend real-world money, and it’s pretty generous with in-game currency. Essentially, it’s a more complex Tamagotchi where you create your own vault and look after your vault dwellers by building up your vault to improve their quality of life.
Originally made for mobile before coming to PC and consoles, it's simplistically addictive mechanics make it fun and approachable for all kinds of players. While it’s, of course, a lot smaller in scale, it deserves a place on this list for being a charming little Fallout number featuring the trademark style and animations of the Vault Boy any Fallout fan will appreciate.
6. Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel
Developer: 14° East
Released: 2001
Who could forget Paladin Ryczek drilling you as you begin your life as a Brotherhood of Steel recruit? The turned-based RPG is a well-executed deviation in the series that introduces the wastelands to a slightly different genre of play. Since it doesn’t follow on from the story of previous games, Fallout Tactics really is on a path of its own. The turn-based strategy aspect might not be everyone’s bottle of Nuka-Cola. Still, how it presents you with several different approaches helps make for a challenging experience.
The voice acting is superb, and honestly, one of the most memorable lines in any Fallout game comes from Ryczek right at the start: “The Elders have ordered me to mold you flabby, hip slapping, berry picking, rat rubbing, Brahman kissers into capable warriors.” That’s one way to make you feel motivated! While being a Brotherhood of Steel recruit doesn’t offer you as much freedom as being a vault dweller, it’s still worth a look.
5. Fallout
Developer: Interplay Inc
Released: 1997
Going back to where it all began, Fallout laid the foundations for the retro-futuristic world we all know and love. Set in the year 2161, Vault 13 is where you take up residence, and when the vault comes under threat, you venture into the Wasteland to protect it. Many fans who came to the series later might be put off at first glance by the style of the top-down RPG, but it was a pivotal title in its own way for establishing much of what we see in later entries.
With branching dialogue, multiple approaches to solving quests, NPCs to encounter, companions, and the classic Special skills system, it has all the hallmarks of the post-apocalyptic world we love. It even introduces the Karma system which we see throughout the series that affects the way the world views your character. By today’s standards, it is pretty dated, and the UI really hasn’t aged well, but if you can get past all that, it’s a historical throwback that’s worth returning to for the story alone.
For more recommendations, read our list of the best classic PC games.
4. Fallout 2
Developer: Black Isle Studios
Released: 1998
Really there weren’t a lot of changes from the first, but Fallout 2 took what its predecessor had established and finely tuned its foundations to offer up something bigger and better. Many view the sequel as the quintessential introduction to the series, and it is more approachable in some respects.
Set 80 years after the events of the original Fallout, you play as the direct descendant of the previous Vault dweller. As the 'Chosen One,' you set out to retrieve the Garden of Eden Creation kit (GECK) from Vault 13. But, as usual, it doesn’t quite go to plan. Lots of the old familiar systems are in play here, but it gets rid of some of the more annoying features of Fallout, such as having a time limit on completing quests. Before Fallout became what it is today, this was once the cream of the Wastelands crop.
3. Fallout 4
Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
Released: 2015
The most recent entry made its way into our pick of the best Xbox One games, and it's no surprise when it has so much on offer. From building your own settlements to finding interesting side quests, there’s no shortage of things to do. But even after hours of enjoyable gameplay, Fallout 4 still feels strangely lacking. Some key features from previous iterations are missing, such as the Karma feature. And while the main storyline is decent, it feels more forced on you than any other main questline in Fallout.
One of the beautiful things about Fallout is how much freedom you have to create your own journey. And sure, you get to create your character, but their fate is already sealed here. You have to be a parent and find your lost son. Of course, there’s still plenty of room to go off the beaten track throughout, but it still feels like you’re tied down. It’s a brilliant game nonetheless, with the best combat in any Fallout title, but it just feels like it's missing that special something.
It's not the best Fallout game, but you can read why we still gave it five stars in our Fallout 4 review.
2. Fallout 3
Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
Released: 2008
While the jump from Fallout to 2 wasn’t such a leap, Fallout 3 truly changed the game. By opening up the expansive Wasteland and giving us a first-person perspective, Bethesda’s spearheaded installment took the series from a 2D RPG to a 3D open-world experience unlike any other. Lots of hallmark elements remained the same - such as Special skills, Karma and dialogue options - but we also got to see the first introduction of new features like the assisted targeting system VATS.
The rich world is a meticulously detailed rendering of a post-apocalyptic Washington DC, and the factions and political divides of the setting add so much depth to the immersive feel of Fallout’s world. It’s over a decade old, but it holds up very well today, which is a testament to just how good Fallout 3 really is.
Check out our Fallout 3 review for more information.
1. Fallout: New Vegas
Developer: Obsidian Entertainment
Released: 2010
The truth is, the game was rigged from the start. Fallout: New Vegas is a near-perfect example of how an RPG should be - in fact, it's easily one of the best RPG games of all time. With one of the greatest openings in video game history, you play as a Mojave Express courier who sets out to deliver a mysterious package. On route, you get caught up in an ambush and left for dead. Ain’t that a kick in the head? Before you know it, you find yourself caught up in something so much bigger.
Right from the get-go, you’re in charge of how everything will play out. Traversing the landscapes of New Vegas, you’ll encounter all kinds of seedy characters along the way, with rival factions, choices with consequences, and one heck of a main storyline. Three great powers - the New California Republic (NCR), Caesar's Legion, and the illusive Mr House - all aim to out play each other for control of the Mojave Wasteland, and it's entirely up to you if you want to get involved. It’s easily one of the most memorable Fallout experiences, with some of the best NPCs in the entire series.
Read more on our pick of the very best Fallout game with our Fallout: New Vegas review.
For more, check out our pick of games like Fallout Shelter and games like Fallout if you're after something similar. Or take a look at our selection of the best open-world games you can play right now.
Fallout: New Vegas director Josh Sawyer knew the Fallout 3 comparisons were coming, but also knew that what made his RPG special were the things that you couldn’t find in one playthrough
Fallout: New Vegas director on the “blessing” of working on the RPG: “I never thought I’d get a chance to work on Fallout [again]”
